Adjustable lawn mower handle bracket construction



Nov. 10, 1953 w. E. SULLIVAN 2,658,322

ADJUSTABLE LAWN MOWER HANDLE BRACKET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 12, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 PIC-3.2

5T TORNEYS NOV. 10, 1953 vv 5 SULUVAN 7 2,658,322

ADJUSTABLE LAWN MOWER HANDLE BRACKET CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 12, 1952 INVENTOR WILLIAM E. SULLIVAN TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10,195 3 ADJUSTABLE LAWN MOWER HANDITE "BRACKET CONSTRUCTION WilliamSullivan, .s rin -m ,Mass assign" 'lto :Sava'ge Corporation,

corporation of Delaware Application Aprilllll, 1952,?Serial 5105282351 2Glaims.

This invention relates -to a'bracket for adjusting the angular elevationof a lawn mower handle and has for a particular object to provide'forsuch adjustment in a power lawn mowerof the type having as a 'feature ofoperation provision for manipulating the "handle to tilt the-framerearwardly on the ground engaging roller or forwardly on the mowerwheels.

Another object of'the invention is to provide an adjusting bracketpivoted frame to which'th'e lower tip end portions ofthe usual handlebraces may be'fixed.

Another object is .to providethis type "of adjustment in a powermower,theturnin'g or steering of which may be suitably controlled in largepart by pivoting the frame forwardly and rearwardly through use of thehandle as a lever.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified bracketconstruction which'may be utilized to maintain a suitable angle'ofelevation for the handle whenever adjustment is made in the cuttingheight of the'mower. 7

These and other objects and advantages of the novel bracket will beapparent'iromthe"following description takenin conjunction'with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. .1 is an end view of a mower with a portion of the wheel cut awayshowing a side frame structure with the new handle bracket attachedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mower iramefo-rwardly tilted on thewheels asby leverage "applied in raising the mower handle;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a parking position of the bracketand handle; and

Fig. 4 'is a plan view of the handle with parts cut away to show detailsof the bracket and lifting hook connection.

As in Figs. 1-3 a rotary reel type of mower is shown with asubstantially rectangular side frame casting or plate I having a wheel 2mounted with its axis at"3 at the forward edge of the plate. A groundengaging roller 4Jis,journailed on a bracket 5 fixed at thelower rearcorner of the plate and frame plate I .isrigidly connected to a sideframe casting or plateo'f similar formation at the opposite end of themower. Mounted between the frames is a deck at 6 on which is carried amotor. and drive structure I.

As is well understood in the art the ground roller Amay be-raised orlowered inits relation to the side frame I to lower .or raiseafbed'knife fixed between the sideframes as at 8. The height of the bedknife of course determines 'theihe'ight of cutmade by'the mower. Avertically extenddirectly on the mower ing slotted arm 9 of rollerbracket '55 is iitted againstthe innerside-Offrame plate l at its rearcorner and fastened bya bolt Ill -to' be removably "secured in one of apair of vertically spaced openings ll for the selective positioning-ofthe roller. "The side frames are: swung on "the axis Of the wheels 'to*raise or lower the frames as the roller adjustment is altered to adjustthe height o'f-cut.

'R-earwardly with respect to the wheel 'in the uppersection ofthesideirame is a 'handle pin [2 extending laterally therefrom -in-axial'alignment-with a similar pmonan opposite s'ide frame, the pins be'ingadaptedto rcceive'theusual bearing openings at the ends of'iorkedha'ndlebraoes of a "handle structure. -At the-uppenrear corner ofthe plate is a'lug It -eilsoprojecting laterally to the-same sideof-theplate and adapted-*forsupportof a handlelorace for an-upwardly andrear-Wardly disposed 'operative-position 'for manipulati-ng the mower.

In the -usual "handle construction of the prior art having no provisionfor adjustment, the free ends'flf a pair 'o'f'handle bracesare pivotedonthe handle pin connections as 1 2, and the "angle-of elevation isdetermined by the rearwardly -directed handle "with the braces restingon the lugs l3. Where'the roller braokets areadjustedto permit alowmowercuttingheightthe rearend edges of the' side frames areloweredwith'respect to the roller; and the hand-le 'thus has acorrespondingly lower =angle= of elevation. Wh-en said rear frame edgesareraisedby theroller bracket andaflixed in*raised-position fer'ahighercut the handle has a correspondingly higher angle of elevation. Inasmuchas the cutting height-of the bed knife, fixed as at By-may be'variedfrom approximately $41 dt aninch'to '2 /4 inches above the ground level,it wlll' -be seen that the-rear'edgeof a frame-must be swung aproportionately greater distance in order to effect this range ofcutting adjustment. And to a corresponding degree the angle of elevationor the handle is affected when=the cutting height is adjusted. Theresult has-beento place the handle pin connection and, lug support in aposition which is at best *a compromise, "as will be seenwevenforthepersonofaverage-height.

Most --'commonly 'an "operator in guiding the mower' under power prefersto grasp "the handle so "that *the braces are raised slightly abovethelugs "F3. The pins-antidugs are positionedso 'as to enable a person ofaverageheiglitto do this easily. Insu-ch'position 'the'user may guidethe advancing mower faswith 'a ".f'floating handle and the's'hocks'and'vibration ofthe frame incident to its movement over a ground surface arenot translated to the handle in the same degree as would be the resultif the handle were braced against the lug I3. It will also be seen thatin an extreme forwardly tilted or high out position of the frames theuser may be obliged to raise his arms into an uncomfortably highposition so as to free the handle braces from the lugs and eliminatejarring from the frame. In many prior structures a bracing lug isomitted entirely or in the alternative is placed low enough to cause nointerference with a high cut position.

The mower, as shown in the attached drawings, however, also utilizes thelug I3 for a desirable and highly convenient feature of operation inthat the frame may thereby be rocked rearwardly and supported entirelyon the ground roller 4 with the front wheels lifted free of the ground.In this condition the forward motion of the mower wheels may beinterrupted without disengaging the driving connection between the motorand wheels. The operator simply depresses the handle downwardly againstthe frame lugs and may then either turn the mower sharply on the rolleror back it away from a tree or other object against which he wishes thegrass closely trimmed. The mower may again be propelled forwardly byreleasing the downward pressure and re-engaging the wheels with theground surface. The stopping and starting is done without the awkwardmanipulation of successively declutching and clutching the power drive.

It is also a desirable feature of operation to enable the operator toexert an upward lifting pressure applying leverage to tilt the frameforwardly on the driving wheels by a hook engagement against the rearedge of lug I3. This feature is of advantage, for example, in guidingthe mower up an incline so as to obtain better wheel traction bythrowing the weight of the mower frame more directly over the wheels. Itis also useful in lifting the roller and bed knife to clear anobstruction such as a stick or rock in the path of the mower which mightotherwise damage the cutter blades and bed knife.

It will be appreciated from the above description of mower operationthat the hand holds or grips at the outer end of a handle will be swungin a relatively wide arc while manipulating the same for all purposes.And it will also be seen that where the angle of elevation of the handleagainst lugs I3 is in fixed relation that persons of difierent heightwill find it awkward in one respect or another to manipulate the handlein all its described operations. For example, where the mower frames aremounted for an extremely low cut with the rear edges of the frames inlowered position, a taller than average person finds it awkward todepress the handle for the turning and backing operations with the frametilted on the roller since the level of the hand grips may then besomewhere near knee level. Thus the tall person finds he is required tostoop in the event he wishes to pull or drag the mower rearwardly orturn a corner with the traction wheels raised above the ground.Conversely, the short person in guiding the mower adjusted for a highcut with the rear frame edges raised, finds the hand grips must be swungto an uncomfortably high position in maneuvering the handle to engagethe hook on the lug and elevate the bed knife and roller to clear anobstruction.

The new bracket of this invention is designed not only to accommodatethe mower for its most convenient use by a short or tall person or oneof average height, but also to adjust the handle whenever the height ofcut is adjusted.

As in Fig. l, the bracket comprises a plate I5 with the inner endsection thereof pivotally mounted on the handle pin connection at I2.being held thereon by a cotter pin I6. The inner section of the plate(Fig. l) is supported for a rearwardly inclined position with the loweredge at I3 resting against a forwardly beveled corner I1 of lug I3, saidlower edge being parallel to the opposite upper edge at I9. The outersection 20 of the plate is formed with the edges thereof divergentlydirected from the edges oi the inner section to form a sector-likepiece. The angular divergence of the outer edges commences approximatelyat the level of the deck in this position so that the upper sectorsection is slightly offset forwardly as will be explained.

Plate I5 is provided with longitudinally spaced openings, an inneropening being centrally of the plate I5 and receiving a bolt and nutfastening as at H. The bolt at 2I is also threaded through an opening inthe outer end of a flattened section 22 of handle brace 23. Spaced fromthe bolt connection at 2| is a bolt connection at 23 fastening the outerend of plate I 5 and inner end of section 22. The bolt of thisconnection is held in an opening of section 22 and in one of a series ofradially spaced openings 25 in the outer section 28. It will be apparentthat the angle of elevation of the handle brace may be varied bypivoting the tip end. of the brace on the bolt at 2| and fastening theconnection at 24 in any one of the opem'ngs 25 without changing themoments oi force in applying leverage on the side frames through pin I2and lug I3.

On the bolt at 2I at the other side of plate I5 is pivoted a dependinghook plate member 26 having a forwardly facing hook 21 adapted forengagement against the rear edge of lug I3 when the handle is raised asin the position of Fig. 2. In the position of Fig. 1 the hook 21 isspaced from the rear edge and accordingly the handle may be raised freeof the lug I3 for the iloating" action of the handle in the hands of theuser. It will also be noted the handle pin I2, wheel axis 3 and lug I3are substantially in alignment and since the lug is substantially in avertical position over the roller 4 leverage by depression of the handle(in the position of Fig. 1) may be applied to easily lift the frontwheels 2 off the ground. By swinging the handle to the position of Fig.2 the handle can be used to lift the roller off the ground.

Hook 26 is provided with a heel portion 28 which may be used to kick thehook upwardly and free of the lug I3 so as to enable the verticalpositioning of the handle as illustrated by Fig. 3. The hook 26 ispivoted on the bolt at 2I as shown in Fig. 4 (with the shank 29 of thebolt passing through the registered openings of plate I5 and end section22), the hook being journaled on an enlarged spacer shoulder 30 for afree swinging action. The handle tongue members 3| and hand grips 32complete the handle assembly. It will be realized that the upper brace23 in this view may also be supplied with a hook plate along with thebracket I5, if desired.

In Fig. 3 a parking lug 33 is shown on the frame I forwardly andupwardly of pin I2 and against which the upper edge I9 of the bracket I5is designed to rest for vertical disposition of the handle. It will alsobe seen that the oifset outer section 20 of the bracket is angledforwardly of the abutment edge of lug 33. This will insure a verticaldisposition of the handle over the mower frame in parking position evenwhen the bolt connection 24 is secured to end section 22 in the loweropening 25 (at the left as in Fig. 3). In the parking position thehandle is held against falling rearwardly by the rear edge of hook 2'!bearing against the forward edge of lug IS. The handle may be lowered bythe operator kicking the heel 28 upwardly to swing the hook back overthe lug in lowering the handle.

What is claimed is:

1. In lawn mower construction, in combination, a side frame, a platemember pivotally fixed at its lower end on said side frame, stop membersspaced forwardly and rearwardly above said pivotal connection of saidplate member and limiting the pivotal swinging movement thereof from arearwardly inclined position against the rear stop member to an uprightposition against the forward stop, a hook pivoted to said plate membercentrally thereof and extendable rearwardly over said rear stop member,said hook being engageable with said rear stop and confining the pivotalswinging movement; of said plate within limits less than the limitsbetween said stop members, a handle brace pivotally mounted at its tipend centrally of said plate and being connected to said plate inwardlyof said tip end of the brace, adjustable means for varying the angularrelation of the plate and brace within a limited pivotal swinging pathof said brace and means to anchor said brace and plate within the limitsof said path for swinging said plate between said stop members.

2. In a power lawn mower, in combination, a side frame and on said framea handle pin projecting therefrom, stop lugs spaced forwardly andrearwardly above said pin, a handle plate member mounted at its lowerend on said pin and pivotally movable between a rearwardly inclinedposition against the rear lug and an upright position against theforward lug, a pivot pin on said plate centrally thereof and a hookmember carried by said pin and extendable rearwardly above said rear lugwith a forwardly facing hook engageable against said lug to confine thepivotal movement of the plate forwardly thereof within limits less thanthe limits between said lugs, said hook member being movable on said pinto pass above said rear lug forwardly of the same with said plate, ahandle brace pivotally mounted at its tip end on said pivot pin of theplate and being connected to said plate inwardly of said tip end of thebrace, adjustable means for varying the angular relation of the plateand brace within a limited pivotal path of said brace, and means toanchor said brace to the plate within the limits of said path forswinging said plate on said pivot pin between said lugs.

WILLIAM E. SULLIVAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 392,282 Moyer Nov. 6, 1888 1,486,758 Jerram Mar. 11, 19241,969,211 Dohm Aug. 7, 1934

